Suit targeting Council on American-Islamic Relations over fake lawyer is reinstated by DC Circuit

A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit seeking to hold the Council on American-Islamic Relations Action Network responsible for a contract employee at a regional chapter who falsely claimed to be a lawyer.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled against CAIR's national office in a decision (PDF) on Tuesday. The suit contends that the employee, Morris Days, took money from CAIR clients for legal services he never performed. The plaintiffs alleged financial loss and emotional distress.

CAIR's regional chapter hired Days as civil rights manager in 2006 on an independent contractor basis, according to the opinion. His job was to advocate for CAIR clients without performing legal services; if legal help was required, Days referred the clients to lawyers. Over time, Days falsely represented to CAIR, the public and CAIR clients that he was a lawyer.